PACIFIC BASIN ECONOMIC COUNCIL
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Benefits Summary Business Networking Build strong personal and professional relationships with some of the most prominent corporate leaders in the region. Gather important market intelligence and develop business opportunities. Policy Advocacy Advance policy issues using the clout and prestige of the entire organization. Gain access to senior government officials. Meetings and Conferences Participate in PBEC's International General Meeting (IGM), the region's premier business meeting, which brings together over 500 business leaders, government ministers, and heads of state from more than twenty-five economies around the Pacific, to discuss emerging business opportunities and trade issues facing the region. An Organization Built on Value to Members In today's increasingly competitive corporate environment, expenditures for membership dues in organizations of dubious value are simply not an option. Since its inception over 30 years ago, PBEC's constant focus has been on delivering value to its members. As the premier business organization in the Asia Pacific, membership in PBEC provides a number of important, bottom-line benefits. Business Networks, Market Intelligence PBEC provides the opportunity to build strong professional and personal relationships with other leading CEOs, Chairmen, and senior executives from the most important companies in the region. PBEC members represent some of the most prominent and influential business leaders in their respective economies, and many have close relationships with not only other corporate elites, but also heads of government, cabinet-level officials, and other key decision-makers. Joining PBEC, participating in PBEC meetings, and building relationships with other PBEC members provides you with the opportunity to profit from the insights and experiences of these leaders in a rare and unique way. PBEC's greatest resource -- and biggest selling point -- is its corporate members, the companies and individuals that make up PBEC. By accessing this network, PBEC membership provides you with business-relevant "market intelligence" that no corporate research staff could ever produce. PBEC provides the opportunity to gain these insights not just in formal meetings and presentations at PBEC meetings, but also over dinner conversations and on the golf course. Although PBEC boasts over 1,100 corporate members, the organization still maintains the feel of an intimate "club", as friendships are built and sustained over many years and many meetings, taking place in almost every economy throughout the region. Spouse programs and enjoyable social events help cement personal bonds and business ties, and ensure that PBEC meetings are not only professionally valuable, but thoroughly enjoyable as well. As a PBEC member, you'll inevitably hear reference made to the PBEC "family", reflecting the organization's long history, tradition, and above all, commitment to quality and value to members. Speaking Out on the Issues -- A Powerful Voice to Advance Your Interests While building strong ties with other business leaders is an important benefit of PBEC membership, PBEC is also valuable as a means to influence government policy. As the independent voice of business in the Pacific, the clout and prestige of PBEC in speaking out on policy issues cannot be overstated. The strength of PBEC lays in its incredible numbers: over 1,100 corporations from 20 economies in the region, accounting for over US$4 trillion in global sales, employing over 10 million people. Given this impressive representation, it is not surprising that the PBEC viewpoint is so well respected by government and other leaders. Membership in PBEC provides you with an opportunity to speak out not only on behalf of your company, your industry, or your country alone, but on behalf of the combined international corporate clout of all of PBEC. PBEC has a variety of working committees in areas of keen interest to international business. These working committees develop policy recommendations, reports and statements which are then submitted for board of directors approval. Once approved by the board, they carry the full weight of the entire organization and are aggressively promoted to individual governments and multilateral institutions such as APEC, WTO, and the OECD, to name a few. In the past, PBEC has been successful in seeing its recommendations favorably acted upon. Membership in PBEC provides the opportunity to advance policy issues which have tangible bottom line benefits to your business. Participation in PBEC events also provides the opportunity for members to meet with and build personal relationships with government and other leaders. PBEC's annual International General Meeting (IGM) as well as business summits held in conjunction with the APEC leaders meetings, routinely attract a number of heads of government, to say nothing of an array of minister-level officials and leaders of international institutions. PBEC members comment on the tremendous educational value of these meetings, as highly interactive sessions featuring prominent speakers addressing all the key issues, provide incredible insights. With the 500 or 600 PBEC delegates, as well as the international media, who normally attend, few other organizations can provide the same opportunities to promote your corporate profile and interests and have contact with so many of the region's leaders. The First Step For information on joining PBEC, contact the appropriate member committee serving your region. You may also contact the International Secretariat in Honolulu for general inquiries, as well as to request copies of our many publications or other introductory material.